ITV is piloting a new hour-long 6pm news programme that integrates its early evening regional and national news bulletins.

Such a move would challenge BBC1's news ratings dominance between 6pm and 7pm.

ITV1 currently runs its regional news at 6pm, followed half an hour later by ITV News, its national and international news. This puts it at a disadvantage to BBC1, which runs its national and international news at 6pm, followed by regional bulletins in the second half of the hour.

There has been speculation for some time that ITV could roll its two bulletins in together as part of its ongoing news review.

In a letter to staff on Wednesday, Mike Jermey, ITV's director of news and sport, confirmed that "some off-air pilots" are being made "to test the idea".

Such a change to its news schedule would require regulatory approval from Ofcom so ITV is trialling the new-look news hour before making a formal application.

Jermey told staff: "One of the options we're looking at it a potential integrated 6pm to 7pm 'news hour' – delivering international, national and regional news in one coherent programme."

He added: "We'll be looking at the overall structure of the hour, including timings, durations and handovers. The pilot programmes will then be reviewed so that we can decide on the best way forward for ITV news."

It is not yet known what the mix will be between regional, national and international news, although it is understood that several options are being trialled.

Some fear that regional news could be squeezed and put towards the end of the news hour, where it would compete directly with BBC1's 6.30pm regional news bulletins.

However, ITV has maintained that its regional news service, which it provides as part of its public service broadcasting obligations, is not financially viable in its current form.

Crozier said: "Certainly we would put programming right at the top [of areas that would benefit from CRR being scrapped]. ITV has regionality at its heart."

Jermey also told staff in his letter that ITV will begin formal talks this month with ITN about renewing its network and London news supply contract beyond the end of next year. "Those talks will aim to build on the 'one ITV News' work already under way," he explained.

An ITV spokesman said: "Michael Jermey, ITV director of news, current affairs and sport, today updated staff on ITV's ongoing news review, which is looking at all areas of ITV's journalism in order to further strengthen the broadcast and digital news operation."

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